What Started It All

Rob Bell has written a new book, Love Wins. You’ve probably heard about it. If you haven’t, I first heard about it from Josh Harris, and then I followed his link to this post which includes Bell’s promo video.

The book has been published (the buzz began before it was released). And from the reviews I’ve seen, he doesn’t actually present a clear solution…he mostly raises questions that make strong implications. His implications are towards some sort of universalism, to which generally orthodox believers very intuitively respond.

A somewhat clear statement by a gracious source (a published FAQ by the church Bell currently pastors, emboldened text mine):

No. Rob isn’t suggesting Universalism [all will be saved, regardless of their faith]. He is proposing that God’s love is so big that the invitation to God’s grace may extend into the next life so that all could be saved. Love Wins clearly points to the centrality of Jesus and the work of his life, death, and resurrection and the hope that Christ’s work will bring restoration to all. Jesus is the only way to God. God’s love does not force anyone and there may be those who continue to reject the invitation extended to them. Love Wins speaks often speaks of human freedom [72-73, 103-104, 113, 115, 117]. Rob shares, “Love demands freedom. It always has, and it always will. We are free to resist, reject, and rebel against God’s ways for us. We can have all the hell we want.” [113]

What is implied by the questions raised and statements made is some sort of Christian (Christ centered) universalism whereby salvation becomes virtually universal as over time (even after death) people are continually given revelations of Christ and God’s grace. In love Jesus died for us while we were yet in sin, and His love “wins”.

Not that Bell necessarily believes my summary, but it is what is heard by many. If Bell believes something else, he did a poor job communicating!

Moving On

In some ways I’ll be overly brief…and simply say that Bell makes some good points and raises some good questions. But he implies things that are very unorthodox without significant backing. And that’s dangerous.

If you know me well at all, then you know that I am open to questioning every orthodox belief. But I’m fairly wary of any non-orthodox solution unless there are good reasons supporting it (Biblically + logically + experientially). And, by the way, I’m certainly open to a good presentation on Christian universalism…Bell just doesn’t seem to make that good presentation from what I’ve heard (admittedly, I have not read the book). If you’re interested in a good case (although it failed to address some significant issues in my opinion) check out http://hopebeyondhell.net

Would God Really???

Some evidence from Bell himself:

Has God created billions of people over thousands of years only to select a few to go to heaven and everyone else to suffer forever in hell? Is this acceptable to God? How is this “good news”?

A staggering number of people have been taught that a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better . . . This is misguided and toxic and ultimately subverts the contagious spread of Jesus’ message of love, peace, forgiveness, and joy that our world desperately needs to hear.

So does God get what God wants? How great is God? Great enough to achieve what God sets out to do, or kind of great, medium great, great most of the time, but in this, the fate of billions of people, not totally great. Sort of great. A little great.

Again, he doesn’t clearly state a solution or position. That said, it hardly takes a rocket scientist to understand the implications of these statements for many (maybe most) readers.

A False Dilemma

The implications most hear are these: either (a) billions of people are eternally tormented or (b) through some means God continually gives opportunity––even post death––for people to choose Him so that eventually “love wins”.

I believe this is a false dilemma. Maybe there is a (c) third option. Maybe (not a) billions of people are not eternally tormented BUT (not b) neither does some sort of post death outreach lead to virtual universal salvation.

A case could be made for either, but a case could also be made for (c) a third option.

The False Dilemma Perpetuated

I was recently shown an MSNBC article. It’s about a pastor who was fired following his involvement with this issue concerning Hell. The opening line, “When Chad Holtz [the pastor] lost his old belief in hell, he also lost his job.”

Now, like most situations, this was probably just the straw that broke the camel’s back. But the article’s focus really wasn’t this specific pastor, but on the Rob Bell controversy as a whole (the pastor had written wrote a FB note supporting Bell’s new book).

Quoting the fired pastor, “I think justice comes and judgment will happen, but I don’t think that means an eternity of torment.”

The article ends with a clear statement of the false dilemma hinted at throughout the piece:

“So long as we believe there’s a dividing point in eternity, we’re going to think in terms of us and them,” [Holtz] said. “But when you believe God has saved everyone, the point is, you’re saved. Live like it.”

Finally

So if you hear from Bell and think to yourself, “He asks some good questions and makes some good points.” Don’t fall for the implied false dilemma and assume there are only two options (eternal torment or some sort of Christian universalism).

Consider this teaser question by Bell from his promo video:

After someone declares Gandhi to be in Hell, Bell responds: “Gandhi’s in hell? He is? And someone knows this for sure?”

I can empathize with these ideas. I just don’t like the implications in our context.

First, I think we ought not make judgements of this type…only God knows Gandhi’s heart when he died. There may have been some sort of deathbed conversation, etc. I’m not God, so I’d rather not play God!

Second, even if Gandhi died without ever being born again (regenerated), then he would be damned and punished in Hell after the judgement, but I’m not sure it is clear the judgement has occurred yet. Thus, even if Gandhi WILL be in Hell, that doesn’t mean he is PRESENTLY in Hell.

Again, I can empathize with these ideas. I just don’t like the implications in our context.

I’m intentionally not bringing up (c) the third option. I have a friend who has spent considerable time on the subject and has written concerning a viable third option, maybe I will interview him sometime soon. Until then, just beware of false dilemmas…even if they’re just implied.